What is (H)CI: Why Does the "Human'' Matter?
For HCI researchers, this workshop addresses foundational questions about the field's identity and human-centered focus, but it is a reflective discussion rather than a novel contribution.
This workshop explores the evolving definition of Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) and the importance of the human element amid generative AI adoption, bringing together researchers to reflect on the field's future.
Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) is a diverse field bringing together theories and methods from fields such as computer science, psychology, and human factors. Historically, HCI has focused on the human through ``user'' or ``human'' centered design, where the focus was either on information processing or understanding people and their concerns with respect to technology. However, amid the increasing adoption of generative AI tools, this workshop explores two critical questions in regards to HCI: What is HCI? and Why does the ``human'' matter? We aim to bring together researchers from diverse disciplines to reflect on these questions. Through guided discussions, group brainstorming, and reflection, we explore what HCI means, what the field may look like in the future, and why it is important to remember the ``human'' aspect of the field.